Holmes Holes SA 2015 Season Kicks Off w/ Pot Luck Supper & Tune-Up Race

by David Lott

The Holmes Hole Sailing Association officially kicked off its season last
Saturday
with the annual Pot Luck Supper at the home of Steve and Pam Besse in
Vineyard Haven. Then it was on to the Tune-Up Race the following day.

Eleven boats turned out at buoy #6 in Vineyard Haven harbor to hear the
first
guns of the season and to test out the new starting sequence in which the
slower boats (Division B) would begin 10 minutes prior to the start of the
go-fast horses in Division A.

The make-up of the divisions got some attention, too. Former Division A
competitors, such as the growing group of Alerion 28s, Roger Becker's Gloria

and Commodore Jerry Goodale's Stormalong were added to the B's to
create a very competitive selection.

All boats took to Course #5 which charged the assemblage to head out
towards Falmouth and back in a strongly ebbing tide and East North Easterly
wind which steadily increased in force over the afternoon.

The tide and winds left the fleet with a windward beat to return to
the harbor
and the sorting out was great fun to watch. Many boats changed position with

one another as they selected their tacks, raising and dashing hopes of great

honors as the tide showed surprising strength.

Brian Roberts guided his Sparkman and Stephens Aileen to the victory with
a winning time of 2:8:34. Tom and Laurie Welch grabbed second on the their
J/100 Escape, following by Irving Gates aboard King Kiwi, a Sabre 38 which
was the first Division B competitor to cross the finish line.

Fourth was Tango, a J/100 skippered by Phil Hale and fifth was Jim Dixon
on the Alerion 28 At Last.

Coming up next on Thursday June 18th is the first race of the season that
will
count towards the season's awards. Sunday will be a Sound Race with a
noon start. All are welcome to come out and compete. For more information,
visit www.HolmesHole.org.